Timeline of History

Nicholas Romanov, the former Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, is executed along with his immediate family and a few retainers at the Ipatiev House (now ominously called the "House of Special Purpose") in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

The decision by the Bolsheviks to kill the Romanov family is made by Vladimir Lenin and signed by Yakov Sverdlov.

The Romanovs have been held by the Bolsheviks since March 1917, and for most of that time in relative comfort. The decision to kill them now seems to be due to the advances being made by White Russians in the Russian Civil War and the fear that, if Nicholas is freed, he might become a symbol for the other side.

The family is awoken at 2AM and herded into a small basement room, possibly on the excuse that they need to be moved for their protection. Yakov Yurovsky, commandant of The House of Special Purpose, reads aloud to them the order written by the Ural Executive Committee:

"Nikolai Aleksandrovich, in view of the fact that your relatives are continuing their attack on Soviet Russia, the Ural Executive Committee has decided to execute you. . . ."

Nicholas Romanov, the former Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, is shot first, then the rest of his family and the retainers are all killed.